Frances A. Gaughan
Frances A. (Nardi) Gaughan, age 92 passed away on April 23, 2017 in Norwalk Hospital resulting from a fall. Frances was born on May 30, 1924, in Trenton, New Jersey, daughter of the late Angelo and Angela Nardi.
She grew up with six sisters, Armida (Mitha), Bianca (Blanche), Olga, Emma, Maria (Mary) and is survived by her younger sister Lena (Tootie) Panfili and a large extended family nearby. During WWII she worked at the Grumman Aircraft Factory in Trenton wiring bomb-bay junction boxes in fighter planes. She married John Paul Gaughan on September 18, 1949 and was the proud mother of five children, Mary Elizabeth Westlund (Meg), John Paul Gaughan Jr., Barbara Anne Gaughan, Margaret Patricia Ford (Patti) and Thomas Nardi Gaughan.
Fran and was a force of nature, her joy came from doing things for others. As one of the founding families at St. Thomas More church she rarely missed a Sunday and was a supporting member of the Oblates of St. Francis De Sales Mission of Childs, MD. She had a smile for everyone. She was a babysitter and mentor to countless generations of kids, a dog sitter, house sitter, fitness instructor, swim team mom, cheerleader, Meals on Wheels driver, accomplished bowler, paddle tennis enthusiast and caregiver. She loved men in uniform, her five o’clock Scotch and gardens in bloom. A true child of springtime she was happiest in the garden planting and weeding. She had a green thumb for life. She was also passionate about her counted cross stitch artwork and there are hundreds of examples on display everywhere.
Fran is survived by Barbara and her husband Chris Cascio of Norwalk Connecticut, Patti and her husband Todd W. Ford of Charlotte, Vermont and Tom Gaughan of West Norwalk Connecticut. She has four grandchildren, Molly Westlund, Lena Gaughan, Samantha and Marcia Ford.
A Mass of Christian Burial will take place on Saturday, May 13, 2017, 10:30AM, at St. Thomas More Church, 374 Middlesex Road, Darien, CT, with burial to follow in St. John Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk. There will be no calling hours. To sign an online guestbook, please go to www.magnerfuneralhome.com